Mercedes 300SL first to join Silverstone Classic auction

It may have clocked 89,000 miles, but a thorough restoration by stellar Mercedes-trained engineers means this 300SL could still fetch £800,000

Silverstone Auctions has announced that a 1958 Mercedes 300SL Roadster is the first lot to join its Silverstone Classic Sale, held at the July historic motorsport festival.

Only 1858 Roadsters were ever built, and this car spent the first part of its life in the USA. It was then imported to the UK and sold to its current owner in 1999. After which it was given a thorough restoration by Ron Waghorn – one of only two UK-based Mercedes-Benz engineers invited to Germany at the car’s launch to be trained by the factory.

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Despite the work completed, the Roadster retained its original colour combination of cream with a red leather interior and also keeps its factory engine, gearbox and rear axle.

Nick Whale, managing director of Silverstone Auctions, said: ‘The 300SL Roadster is a timeless classic, as beautiful now as it was 60 years ago. It has stood the test of time as one of the earliest and greatest race bred road cars. Its complex mix of engineering and beauty make it one of the most respected road going classics ever made so it is fitting that we have the pleasure to offer it at the Silverstone Classic in July.’

The metal fabrication for the bodywork and frame was carried out by former McLaren engineer Kerry Adams, with the restoration completed in 2001. An extensive photographic record of the process is included in the vehicle history file. In the following 17 years the car has completed 9000 miles across Europe, including Jordan and Monaco. The total mileage of the 300SL is 89,000.